The husband of a woman who died when a tree crushed her in Highgate today paid tribute to his “perfect wife”.
Juliana Da Silva Queiroz Murilo, 37, was in the passenger seat of the silver Honda being driven by her cab driver husband Carlos when a tree collapsed on her in gale force winds on Friday at 4pm.
Mr Murilo, 39, who had just picked his wife up from work as a house cleaner, was cut from the car and taken to hospital after the horror smash in Muswell Hill Road.
He was told in the ambulance his wife, who was from Brazil, had tragically passed away.
Speaking from their family home in North London after being released from hospital, he told The Standard: “She was a sweet and adorable wife she was perfect so friendly, always laughing and making jokes.
“We loved each other so much it was as if we were one.”
Describing the accident Mr Murilo, who is also a house painter, said: “I was driving her home like I always do.
“Suddenly there was a crash and the tree crushed the roof. It landed mainly on my wife. I was conscious but in a daze. A woman came and held my hand and spoke to me.
“I was cut out of the wreckage and taken to an ambulance. They told me my wife was dead. I’m heartbroken I can’t get the scene out of my head. In many ways I died as well we were inseparable.”
Mr Murilo, 39, who is also originally from Brazil, and suffered cut hands and bruised ribs in the incident, said the couple had been married 15 years.
He said his wife was training to be a teacher and was looking forward to the future.
The cab driver was using his work car to drive her home from a cleaning shift in Camden. He was only a five minute drive away from home when the tragedy struck.
He added: “I always drive her home I wanted her to be safe, especially with the high winds. I can’t believe what has happened how could this happen.
“We were so close. She had never learned to swim because she was scared but I taught her last year and we celebrated by travelling to Menorca to swim in the sea. I called her ‘my little fish’ I loved her so much.”
Mr Murilo added: “I can’t accept she has gone. I asked them in the ambulance and they told me. My life has fallen apart.”
He said the Christian couple regularly visited church and he was receiving help from his friends and family.
People who lived nearby attempted to pull the trunk of the huge tree that fell from Highgate Woods onto the roof of the car.
Of those who tried to pull the tree off the car and a woman who held his hand he said: “I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.”
Heartbroken family members from Brazil and Portugal paid tribute to Ms Murilo after she became the first confirmed death in England related to Storm Eunice.
Her sister-in-law Solange Murilo told The Standard: "Juliana was a very special person. She had a huge heart and was the joy of the family. Juliana will always shine and will be missed. We will never forget Juliana, our Ju."
She also wrote on Facebook under a picture of Juliana: “The tears flow down my face and my heart tightens every time I remember everything we’ve been through together.
“The despair of not being able to protect you and stop your death. You still had so much life ahead of you, so many dreams to come true.
“It hurts to know that I will no longer be able to see your smile, that I will no more have that friend, that counsellor, for all occasions, you welcomed me with open arms, you were the most special person, who passed through our lives.”
She added: “I lost a sister... it was a stabbing in the heart. We don’t know who to ask for help. Thank you for the rest of my life for everything you’ve done for me. You were the most special human being I’ve ever met. I love you.”
Miriam Queiroz wrote on Facebook: “It’s hard to believe, how it hurts, my God! It’s a piece of me that’s been ripped apart, a hole that’s been made in my chest.
“My little sister, my little life, my little cutie that I love so much.”
Her mother-in-law Marlene Murilo told The Standard: “‘I’m broken. She will always be my daughter I didn’t have a daughter-in-law but a daughter.Addressing her tragic relative she said: “Thank you Ju, for making my son happy for 15 years. Thank you for choosing to brighten our family with your presence.
“Our family will never be the same but I know that you will always be like a little star taking care of us. I will love you forever.”
Another tribute said: “I always wonder why God takes good people? My condolences to Carlos and his entire family who are going through this sad tragedy. May you rest in peace, minina Juliana, we will miss you.”
Mayor of Haringey Adam Jogee, wrote on Twitter: “The saddest of news from Haringey. I send my deepest condolences, and those of all our people, to the family and friends of the woman who lost her life in #MuswellHill. May her memory be a blessing. “
It comes as the UK began counting the cost of Friday’s storm, which brought damage and major disruption to travel as record-breaking gusts of up to 122mph were recorded.
The storm ripped large parts of the London O2 Arena’s roof off as trees came down on pavements, roads and railway lines across the capital.
